Safeguarding
Safeguarding and child protection are as important now as they ever have been.
Background
We set out below a reminder of the mandatory requirements for clubs with youth teams:
(a) Key Officials – (Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Welfare Officer) are required to hold an in-date Safeguarding for Committee Members Certificate.
(b) Youth Club Welfare Officer – An in-date accepted FA DBS Check, Welfare Officers Course, and Safeguarding Children Course
(c) Youth Team Officials (Managers/Coaches) – An in-date accepted FA DBS Check and Safeguarding Children Course
The League (HYFL/HSC) Safeguarding/Welfare Officer is Andy Lowe (andylowe43@btinternet.com).
Key Safeguarding Contacts
A. Middlesex Football Association
If you have any questions, need some help or guidance or need to report a concern - please do not hesitate in contacting: safeguarding@middlesexfa.com.
Further information is also available at: https://www.middlesexfa.com/about/rules-and-regulations/safeguarding-and...
B. The FA/ NSPCC/Childline
If you do not feel comfortable reporting a safeguarding concern to the above, then you can whistle blow and report to:
- The FA: safeguarding@thefa.com or
- NSPCC 0808 800 5000 or
- Childline: 0800 1111
C. Police 999
All serious immediate safeguarding concerns please call 999 and report to the police.
Season 2026-2027
For teams to affiliate for the 2026-2027 season, ALL managers and coaches of youth teams (Under 7 to Under 18 inclusive) are required to complete The FA’s online Safeguarding Children Course and ensure that this qualification remains in-date by doing the re-certification course every 2 years, along with ensuring that they have an FA DBS Check.
The FA DBS process has changed. Full guidance on this can be found here - https://grassrootstechnology.thefa.com/support/solutions/folders/4800070...
Safeguarding Roles - https://www.firsteleven.co.uk/harrow/forms/saferole.pdf
Key Guidance/Support:
Please refer to the following to assist:
1. Here is an NSPCC link to Helping you support children and report concerns: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/
2. The FA’s website page ‘Safeguarding’ is an important link for all relevant information: https://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/safeguarding
3. The FA have produced guidance on keeping Children safe in the Digital world: https://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/safeguarding/section-6-s...
4. Please watch and share this video: https://youtu.be/4rUoMjgy_70 - it’s 8 minutes long and it’s called ‘Let’s keep children safe in football.’
5. We would also refer to the Grassroots / RESPECT Codes of Conduct https://www.englandfootball.com/participate/behaviour/the-grassroots-code
6. Details of Safeguarding Training and Education (via FA Learning) can be found at https://thebootroom.thefa.com/ and https://learn.englandfootball.com/courses/safeguarding
7. Heading Guidance - https://www.firsteleven.co.uk/harrow/forms/heading.pdf
8.England Football Learning: https://learn.englandfootball.com/
12 Aug 26